Folding seat



A. c. BENOIT FOLDING SEAT June 3, 1941.

Filed July 19, 1939 .B .L 0 m B. C m 6 0 Z A ATTORNEYS Patented June 3, 1941 UNITE SITES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to folding seats, particularly the type used at circuses, for row boats, stadium seats or any seat which is not provided with a back or arm rests.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a comfortable seat when used in cold weather at football games or the like, to protect the users body from the sides and front.

Another object of this invention is to permit easy assembly of the seat and one that may be folded into a compact unit to be readily carried.

A still further object is to form the seat from a single sheet of material at a minimum cost.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in its assembled form.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the blank of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view of the invention in its folded form.

Referring to the drawing:

The invention is formed from a blank of sheet material, from a single stamping. Transverse score lines I, 2, 3 and 4 are formed in the blank along which the blank may be folded in stepped form to define respectively, reading from top to bottom of Figure 2, a back rest 5, a seat 6, an apron l, a foot rest 8, and a front 9 for the foot rest.

Score lines l and H are formed longitudinally of the blank near the side edges to define respectively side Wings 12 for the back, arm rests l3 for the seat, leg shields i l for the apron, and side closures l5 and I6 for the foot rest.

The side wings 12 are severed from the arm rest by transverse lines I! and ll! of severing. The leg shields [4 are severed from the side closures l5 of the foot rest by lines of severing I9 and 20. The side closures l5 of the foot rest are severed from the reinforcing flaps l6 of the front of the foot rest 9 by lines of severing 2i and 22. The reinforcing flaps it are one half the length and one half the width of the side closures [5.

The side Wings [2 areprovided with elements 23 which engage with separable snap fastener elements 24 of the arm rest. Side closures 15 are provided with separable snap fasteners 27. The leg shields M are provided with elements 26 which engage with elements 21 of separable snap fasteners of the side closures l5. The reenforcing flaps iii are provided with elements 28 of separable snap fasteners which engage with one of the elements 2'! of the separable snap fasteners of the side closures.

In setting up the chair the back rest 5 is bent upwardly from the seat 6 on the score line I. The side wings i2 are bent forwardly on the score lines Ill and H outside of the arm rest l3 of the seat which arm rests have been previously bent upwardly. The snap fasteners of the arm rests and side wings are engaged with each other. 'The apron l is then bent downwardly on the score line 2 to depend from the seat 6 and the leg shields M are then bent forwardly along the score lines It! and l I. Then the foot rest 8 is bent forwardly from the apron and the front 9 of the foot rest is bent upwardly upon the score line 4. Then the reenforcing flaps it are bent upon the score lines Ill and H to engage the front edges of the leg shields It as shown in Figure 1. Finally side closures [5 are bent upwardly on the score lines It and H outside of the reinforcing flaps and the separable connectors of the side closures and the reinforcing flaps are engaged with each other.

To fold the seat the separable connectors are disengaged from each other and the parts straightened out to fiat shape as shown in Figure 2. Thereupon the seat 6 and apron I may be folded upon themselves and laid back against the back rest 5 as shown in Figure 4. Thereupon the extended foot rest 3 and apron 9 for the foot rest may be folded upon the apron l.

A strap 29 is secured to the back rest 5 and is equipped with one element of a snap fastener 30, the other element of which is carried by the front 9 of the foot rest. The snap fasteners of the back rest and front may be connected to hold the folded seat in folded condition.

A sheet 3! of flexible material is secured at its lower end to the front 9 of the foot rest and extends to the arm rests of the seat 6. This serves as a lap robe which is adapted to be tucked inside the leg shields i l to keep cold air from the users legs.

From the above description it is thought that this invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

A folding seat comprising a single blank of material scored on transverse and longitudinal score lines and out at intervals on the transverse score lines from the longitudinal edges of the blank to the longitudinal score lines, said blank being bent on the transverse score lines to form a back, a seat extending from the lower edge of the back, an apron depending from the front edge of the seat, a base at the bottom of the apron extending forwardly from the apron, a front member extending upwardly from the base, said blank having portions bent on the longitudinal score lines at a pair of said cuts to form upstanding arm rests on the sides of the seat, wings on the sides of the back bent forwardly on the longitudinal score lines at said pair of cuts and overlapping the armrests, said blank having portions bent on the longitudinal score lines at another pair of said cuts to form leg shields extending forwardly from the sides of the apron, said blank having other portions bent on the longitudinal score lines at said second pair of cuts to form side members extending upwardly from the base and overlapping the leg shields, said blank having portions bent on the longitudinal score lines at still another pair of said cuts to form reinforcing flaps for the side members extending rearwardly from the sides of the front member and extending to the front edges of the leg shields and overlapping the side members, and fasteners formed of detachably connected elements securing the overlapped portions of the seat elements in assembled position.

ALBERT C. BENOII. 

